title: ATP-binding cassette transporters in liver.
abstract: The human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily consists of 48 members with 14 of them identified in normal human liver at the protein level. Most of the ABC members act as ATP dependent efflux transport systems. In the liver, ABC transporters are involved in diverse physiological processes including export of cholesterol, bile salts, and metabolic endproducts. Consequently, impaired ABC transporter function is involved in inherited diseases like sitosterolemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or cholestasis. Furthermore, altered expression of some of the hepatic ABCs have been associated with primary liver tumors. This review gives a short overview about the function of hepatic ABCs. Special focus is addressed on the localization and ontogenesis of ABC transporters in the human liver. In addition, their expression pattern in primary liver tumors is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wlcek
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stieger
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
keywords: cancer; expression; human ABC transporters; liver; localization; ontogenesis